Aegean Tops Ky. Juvenile; Ward Sweeps Exacta

Trainer Wesley Ward, who had recent success with 2-year-olds at the Keeneland spring meet, continued his hot steak with Aegean and Jealous Again when the fillies ran one-two in the $100,000 Kentucky Juvenile (gr. III) (VIDEO) April 30 at Churchill Downs.

Aegean, owned by Steven Michael Bell, became the eighth filly to win the Kentucky Juvenile, which was run for the 21st time. The daughter of Northern Afleet remained undefeated in two starts while being sent off at 9-1. She was ridden by Rene Douglas in the five-furlong dirt sprint.

The final time on a track labeled good was :58.24.

Jealous Again, who is also co-owned by Ward, was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in a field of nine fillies and colts. The Trippi filly broke her maiden by 11 1/4 lengths at Keeneland on April 3.

Breaking from posts one and two, respectively, Aegean and Jealous Again wasted no time going to the front. Setting the pace under Elvis Trujillo, Jealous Again got the first quarter-mile in :21.70 while Aegean was right on her heels. Only Western Smoke was within striking distance of the leaders when they turned for home.

Jealous Again continued her lead approaching the sixteenth pole, but Douglas swung Aegean off the rail and she swooped past her stablemate in deep stretch to win by 1 1/4 lenghts. Mission Impazible closed strongly after a slow start.

Aegean, bred in Florida by Vegso Racing Stable, is out of the Aptitude mare Apt to Star. She broke her maiden by 3 1/2 lengths on April 4 at Keeneland.

The winner paid $20.80, $8.20 and $5. The exacta (1-2) returned $60.20 and the trifecta (1-2-7) was worth $263.80.